Baby humpback's whale of a time

THE first baby humpback whale of the season has been spotted frolicking with its mother just 6km off the Sunshine Coast.

Whale One skipper John Matterson said passengers were delighted to see the light grey calf last week and he has since been followed by five more ranging in age from just a day old to a week.

Mr Matterson said it was easy to guess the ages of the calves because they were born white and did not get their full colour until they were seven days old. "We had a one-week-old swimming around our vessel showing off while its mother was hovering under the vessel keeping a close eye on him.

"With the real little fellas, who might only be a few hours old, we show everybody and get a picture or two, but then we move on so we don't distress the mother. It's the right thing to do."

Mr Matterson said it was common for calves to be born while their mothers were migrating north, as our waters were a balmy 22 degrees - just a few degrees cooler than the Whitsundays.

The next six weeks will hold many more baby whale surprises. Pods will start making their way south in September.